Pilot Mapping and Profiling of the Mauritian Diaspora in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom: Stories of Belonging, Impact and Opportunity
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CANADA UNITED KINGDOM AUSTRALIA MAURITIUS Pilot mapping and profiling of the Mauritian diaspora in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom: Stories of belonging, impact and opportunity EXECUTIVE SUMMARY International Organization for Migration (IOM) 17 route des Morillons, P.O. Box 17, 1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland Tel.: +41 22 717 9111 • Fax: +41 22 798 6150 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.iom.int The opinions expressed in the report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout the report do not imply expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IOM concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries. IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an inter- governmental organization, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to: assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration; advance understanding of migration issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants. _____________________________________________ This research has been conducted as part of the “Building the capacity for the Mauritian Government to Strengthen the Linkages with the Mauritian Diaspora”, Funded by the IOM Development Fund. IOM Mauritius would like to thank the authors of this report Mr Martin Russell, PhD and Mrs Emira Ajeti for their expertise and professionalism. Publisher: International Organization for Migration IOM Mission in Mauritius Suite 501, St. James Court, St. Denis Street Port Louis, Mauritius Tel.: (+230) 210 42 50 Fax: +41 22 798 6150 Email: [email protected] Website: www.iom.int/countries/mauritius This publication has been issued without formal editing by IOM. Required citation: International Organization for Migration (IOM), 2021. Pilot Mapping and Profiling of the Mauritian Diaspora in Australia, Canada and United Kingdom: Stories of Belonging, Impact and Opportunity. IOM, Port Louis. _____________________________________________ © IOM 2021 Some rights reserved. This work is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- NoDerivs 3.0 IGO License (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO).* For further specifications please see the Copyright and Terms of Use. This publication should not be used, published or redistributed for purposes primarily intended for or directed towards commercial advantage or monetary compensation, with the exception of educational purposes e.g. to be included in textbooks. Permissions: Requests for commercial use or further rights and licensing should be submitted to [email protected]. * https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo/legalcode PUB/2021/041/L Pilot mapping and profiling of the Mauritian diaspora in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom: Stories of belonging, impact and opportunity Executive Summary CONTENTS Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................v Acronyms and abbrevations ...............................................................................................................vii Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ix Mauritian diaspora engagement: A historiographical snapshot .............................................1 Mapping the Mauritian diaspora in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom ................................................................................................................3 Situational analysis of Mauritian engagement: institutional and gaps analysis ..................5 Recommendations: designing a diaspora engagement framework for Mauritius ................................................................................................................7 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................11 Pilot mapping and profiling of the Mauritian diaspora in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom: Stories of belonging, impact and opportunity iii Executive Summary ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The researchers would like to place on record our thanks to all stakeholders within the Republic of Mauritius who helped to make this research such an educational and enjoyable process. They would specifically like to thank colleagues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade. The researchers would like to express special thanks to all members of the Mauritian Diaspora Advisory Groups in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom respectively: Australia: Mr Bernard Busooa (Producer/Host Mauritian Community Radio ACT), Mr Yannick Benoit (Yanique Entertainment Perth), Ms Solange Lajoie (Mauritian Broadcasting Group Radio 3zzz Melbourne), Ms Lilette Louis (President Victorian Mauritian Pastoral Council Inc), Ms Monique Malie, Mr Steeve Mootoosamy, Mr Clancy Philippe (Mauritius Australia Connection), Ms Isabelle Pierre, and Mr George Siniska (Australian Mauritian Association of Queensland). Canada: Dr Nittin Reebye, Ms Yogita Beerunj, Mr Naushad Mahamoodally, Ms Leena Morowa (President Association Québec Ile Maurice), Ms Pamela Pakium (President, Canada Mauritius Cultural Association [Ottawa]), Mr Shiv Seechurn, Mr Vella Vadivelu (Mauritian Organization of Winnipeg, Manitoba), Mr Roudi Ramalingum, and Mr Raj Appadoo. United Kingdom: Ms Vaishali Yashoda Auchombit, Ms Hannah Cader, Mr Jean Claude Deelchand, Mr John Felicité, Mr Ashwin Jokhoo/Mr Pajani Singah (The Overseas Mauritian Society), Mr Sunil Mungur (Gynch Shaw Maurice & Co. [United Kingdom]; Munsupraay Accounting [Mauritius]; SPELmedia & President, Mauritius Hindu Association [United Kingdom]; Mauritian Achievers Award United Kingdom), Prof. Gopal Ramchurn, and Mr Lock Deo Sohodeb (Director, SPELmedia & Secretary, Mauritius Hindu Association [the United Kingdom]). This work was greatly enriched by your commitment, insight, and passion. The research team would also like to thank the team at Beyond Communications for their tireless work to support the media and marketing of the research. The authors would like to acknowledge that this research would not have been possible without the remarkable commitment of the team at the International Organization for Migration. Kind thanks to Ms Tanvi Ramtohul and Mr Khemraj Kokil. Special thanks to Ms Céline Lemmel, Head of Office for IOM Mauritius and Seychelles, for her commitment, inspiration, and professionalism throughout. Finally, warm thanks to Ms Tania Labour, Programme Assistant, for being the quiet hero of this research. We hope the report does justice to all the hard work being done by everyone above. Mr. Martin Russell, PhD and Mrs. Emira Ajeti. IOM Consultants Pilot mapping and profiling of the Mauritian diaspora in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom: Stories of belonging, impact and opportunity v Executive Summary ACRONYMS AND ABBREVATIONS IOM International Organization for Migration TWG Technical Working Group UN DESA United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Pilot mapping and profiling of the Mauritian diaspora in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom: Stories of belonging, impact and opportunity vii Executive Summary INTRODUCTION This is the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Pilot Mapping and Profiling of the Mauritian Diaspora report as part of the “Building the capacity of the Mauritian Government to strengthen linkages with the Mauritian diaspora” project. This pilot mapping and profiling arrives at a time marked by an increasing awareness and appreciation from a variety of stakeholders in the Republic of Mauritius of the strategic role that the Mauritian diaspora can play as a co-creator of the future of the country. This pilot mapping was a listening and learning exercise with the ambition to reach out to the Mauritian diaspora in three pilot countries/regions of destination – Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. Furthermore, as the world looks beyond the complexities and implications of the global pandemic, early signs are emerging of diaspora engagement being positioned as front and centre of economic recovery plans for many small countries. This diaspora moment is shifting towards a diaspora movement, and the Republic of Mauritius can join this movement to bring value to its people abroad and its people at home. Methodology The design and research apparatus for the project was conducted through the deployment of different information sources/tools and mobilization of international expertise, addressing the non-availability of reliable data on Mauritian diaspora communities. Through a mixed-method approach, the research drew upon methodologies aligned with contemporary diaspora studies including extensive desk research and stakeholder consultations (semi-structured interviews and diaspora surveys were utilized). The surveys consisted of a Mauritian Diaspora Institutional Survey for diaspora organizations/networks and a Mauritian Diaspora Individual Survey for each of the target countries/regions. Field research was not possible due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Other key limitations that impacted the methodological roll-out included the fact